There are a handful of artists in Hip
Hop today that somehow manage to
consistently put out mixtapes that
are hotter than their actual albums, and Fabolous definitely
makes the list. On his new mixtape, There is No Competition, Loso teams up with Drama for a Brooklyn edition of the
ever popular Gangsta Grillz series. Loso brings a barrage of quality tracks such as
“Hustla’s Poster Child,” coupling street-inspired lyrics with his trademark swagger
to outperform the Loso we find on most of his album cuts. — Rohit Loomba

Yo Gotti & DJ Smallz
Cocaine Muzik

Yo Gotti may not be a platinum-selling
artist, or gold for that matter, but on
the streets the name is known. And on
this DJ Smallz mixtape, the Memphis, TN rapper gets back to
the basics with more street shit that’ll keep the gangsta parties going in hoods everywhere. Tracks like “Talk To ‘Em,” “My
Niggaz” and “Hoody” are standouts, but a remake to Prince’s “Purple Rain” entitled
“Pure Cocaine” with Gucci Mane and Young Cash was a bad idea. And on “Aw Man,”
Gotti seems out of his league after Juelz Santana spits his 16. But the mixtape has
more positives than negatives, including the new single “Let’s Vibe,” where Polow
Da Don flips LL Cool J’s “I Need Love” and Pleasure P delivers on the hook. After
hearing new music on Cocaine Muzik, Gotti’s forthcoming album King of Memphis
sounds like a fitting title. — Randy Roper

Treal & DJ Smallz/The Formula (To Making Hit Music)

If you’re a fan of trap muzik, gangster
raps or 187 rhymes, than Treal isn’t the
group for you. This four-man group
from Orlando, FL is reminiscent of a time when rap music
was fun-filled and carefree. On songs like their regional hit
“I’m Not Lockdown,” “Metro” and “The Crush,” they approach
relationships from an amusing perspective that’s easy to relate to. And when they’re
addressing serious topics like the live-by-the-gun-die-by-the-gun track “The
Wrong Man Wrong Time,” their unique sing-along style draws listening in. But the
group’s biggest flaw is their lack of lyricism, as none of the members are capable of
spitting memorable verses. Nonetheless, Treal is an entertaining group that knows
how to make a hit in this ringtone-influenced state of Hip Hop. — Randy Roper

Mack Maine & DJ Smallz/Bitch
I’m Mack Maine

Listening to this CD will tell you one
of two things. One, Mack Maine can
rap his ass off. Two, Mack Maine reads
OZONE. While he forgave us for shorting Freestyle 101 of a
perfect 5 Blunts rating, he’s still a little saucy about not being
named in anyone’s Top Ten Next To Blow in last year’s OZONE
Awards issue. But according to his verse on “Young Money Nucca” he’s not sweating
any accolades anyway, because “I’m like HBO, no commercial.” Bitch I’m Mack Maine
still isn’t a 5 Blunter, but quality beat selection and production on “Other Shit,”
“Dead Body Everyday” make it a good smoker. — Maurice G. Garland

South Carolina is one of the last states
left that hasn’t cashed out on the Southern Hip Hop phenomenon. That doesn’t mean that they haven’t been staying busy
while their neighbors have enjoyed mainstream attention.
This collection of South Cack underground hits shows that
this small state has a big voice. Past songs from definitive SC rappers Pachino Dino,
Lil’Ru, Collard Greens and country fried offerings like Sauce’s “That’s What It Iz” head
up a strong show of talent. The over abundance of street-skewered subject matter
leaves a little to be desired, but with the state being known as the second most
violent in the United States, its to be expected. Quality production throughout, this
mixtape should spark an SC power move. — Maurice G. Garland

96 // OZONE MAG

DJ Scream & Rocko Da
Don/Swag Season
With songs named “Really Getting’ Money,” “Money,”
“Money Ain’t An Object” and “Yeen Talkin’ Bout
Money” all appearing on this mixtape, it’s safe to
assume what Rocko’s favorite subject is. His infatuation with cash and swag can either be applauded
for staying on topic or berated for lack of variety.
With clean-but-typical trap music production
throughout, songs like “Language” and “Dis Morning” make for witty, entertaining listens. But if your
pockets aren’t quite right, you won’t appreciate
Rocko’s idea of a good time on the shop-aholic themed “Nu, Nu.” Seemingly immune to the
country’s bad economy, Swag Season will either
motivate you to “make money, money” or “take
money, money.” — Maurice G. Garland

2 Pistols & DJ Smallz/The
Jimmy Jump Introduction
With the production team J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
cosigning him and a single with T-Pain (“She Got
It”) rising up the charts, the future looks promising
for FLA newcomer 2 Pistols. And on his formal debut
to the streets, The Jimmy Jump Introduction, Pistols
attempts to show fans the reason he’s buzzing. Although this DJ Smallz mixtape is the perfect forum
to capture the street’s attention, freestyles over
hits like “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and “I Get Money,”
aren’t enough to convince listeners of Pistols ability. “I Got That” with Young Skee, “I’m a Bad Boy”
and a snippet of “Eyes Closed” featuring Young
Jeezy are steps in the right direction but come too
few and far in between, making this a less than
notable mixtape induction. — Randy Roper

Young Snead & Yae High
(hosted by The AphilliBefore Drama and ates)/The Takeover
Cannon were ar- Continues Vol. 1
rested, having your mixtape hosted by the Aphilliates meant instance acceptance from the streets,
but things aren’t that easy anymore. On The Takeover Continues Volume One, Young Sean and Yae
High look to prove they’re the next to blow out of
the A-Town. But while the duo shows potential on
songs like “I’m a Star,” “Is U Fa Real,” and “On My
Block” featuring Lloyd, other tracks sound as if they
could have been dropped by any trap rap group out
of Atlanta. Snead and Yae have potential, but it’s
hard to determine if it’s the potential of artists that
have longevity or if “I’m a Star” will serve as a oneand-done hit from the duo. — Randy Roper

DJ Scream, MLK &
Young Dro/I Am
Legend
DJ Scream and Young
Dro team up for I Am
Legend, a mixtape Dro
fans will appreciate. Dro
brings the same formula
he did on Best Thang
Smokin’, matching his
distinct voice to a variety of bass driven beats.
On I Am Legend, Dro carries everything himself,
limiting the number of
features. Standout tracks
include “Loud,” “House
on Me,” and “Tropical.”
While Dro does have
some bright moments on
this mixtape, mediocrity
seems to plague Dro’s
music for the most part.
— Rohit Loomba

Yung Texxus/ThrowAways Vol. 1
Yung Texxus offers fans
new music with ThrowAways Vol. 1. Good beat
selection helps this
mixtape but Texxus lacks
much in terms of content. While Yung Texxus
definitely brings tracks
that are sure to tear up
your speakers he doesn’t
do much to break the
mold that seems to be
used for most music out
of the South today, failing to really set himself
apart. Standout tracks
include “Live My Life,”
“So Glorious,” and “The
Savior’s Here.”
— Rohit Loomba